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Thursday, 20 May 2010

Lib Cons new manifesto for communities and local government.

The Government believes that it is time for a fundamental shift of power from Westminster to people. We will promote decentralisation and democratic engagement, and we will end the era of top-down government by giving new powers to local councils, communities, neighbourhoods and individuals.
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We will promote the radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to local government and community groups. This will include a review of local government finance.
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We will rapidly abolish Regional Spatial Strategies and return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils, including giving councils new powers to stop ‘garden grabbing’.
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In the longer term, we will radically reform the planning system to give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of the places in which their inhabitants live, based on the principles set out in the Conservative Party publication Open Source Planning.
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We will abolish the unelected Infrastructure Planning Commission and replace it with an efficient and democratically accountable system that provides a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects.
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We will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development and setting out national economic, environmental and social priorities.
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We will maintain the Green Belt, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and other environmental protections, and create a new designation – similar to SSSIs – to protect green areas of particular importance to local communities.

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We will abolish the Government Office for London and consider the case for abolishing the remaining Government Offices.
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We will provide more protection against aggressive bailiffs and unreasonable charging orders, ensure that courts have the power to insist that repossession is always a last resort, and ban orders for sale on unsecured debts of less than £25,000.
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We will explore a range of measures to bring empty homes into use.
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We will promote shared ownership schemes and help social tenants and others to own or part-own their home.
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We will promote ‘Home on the Farm’ schemes that encourage farmers to convert existing buildings into affordable housing.
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We will create new trusts that will make it simpler for communities to provide homes for local people.
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We will phase out the ring-fencing of grants to local government and review the unfair Housing Revenue Account.
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We will freeze Council Tax in England for at least one year, and seek to freeze it for a further year, in partnership with local authorities.
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We will create directly elected mayors in the 12 largest English cities, subject to confirmatory referendums and full scrutiny by elected councillors.
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We will give councils a general power of competence.
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We will ban the use of powers in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) by councils, unless they are signed off by a magistrate and required for stopping serious crime.
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We will allow councils to return to the committee system, should they wish to.
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We will abolish the Standards Board regime.
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We will stop the restructuring of councils in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon, and stop plans to force the regionalisation of the fire service.
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We will impose tougher rules to stop unfair competition by local authority newspapers.
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We will introduce new powers to help communities save local facilities and services threatened with closure, and give communities the right to bid to take over local state-run services.
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We will implement the Sustainable Communities Act, so that citizens know how taxpayers’ money is spent in their area and have a greater say over how it is spent.
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We will cut local government inspection and abolish the Comprehensive Area Assessment.
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We will require continuous improvements to the energy efficiency of new housing.
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We will provide incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development, including for new homes and businesses.
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We will review the effectiveness of the raising of the stamp duty threshold for first-time buyers.
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We will give councillors the power to vote on large salary packages for unelected council officials.

Read the full deal here DIRECT GOV It downlads a PDF for you to read at your leisure.

Local Policing Team 01905 725776 - Phone this number if you would like to leave a message for your local policing team. Only use this number for non-urgent, general queries. A member of your local policing team will respond to you as soon as practicable

St Gregory’s Church has stood and served the community of Castlemorton for nearly 850 years and remains open for all as a place of formal worship or quiet personal reflection and for community events. A family service is held at 1115 on the second Sunday of every month and Holy Communion is celebrated at 0930 on the fourth Sunday. The traditional service of Evensong is held on the first Sunday at 1830. St Gregory’s is a constituent parish of the wider benefice of Longdon, Castlemorton, Bushley and Queenhill and is served by our vicar, the Reverend Chris Moss who may be contacted at the Church Office, The Old School House, Longdon, Tewkesbury, GL20 6AT.

Bus ServicesCommunity Action offers a bus service every Thursday from Castlemorton to Malvern (arriving 10.30am) and Retail Park (10.45am). This is a ring and book service. £3 each way with concessions for Worcestershire bus pass holders.Tel: 892381 Monday-Thursday 10am – 4pm.

Parish MagazineKeep up to date with events and activities in the benefice area by subscribing to your local Parish Magazine. £5 a year for 11 issues, delivered to your door.Contact Christina Leake.Tel: 833339Parish HallCastlemorton Parish Hall is available for hire – ideal for birthday parties, clubs, dances, meetings, training sessions and wedding receptions. Accommodates 100 people. Wheelchair access. Toilets. Car Parking. Large kitchen and bar area, hot water, centrally heated. Tables, chairs, cutlery and china are all available. Staging, range of lighting to create atmosphere.Reasonable rates.Tel: 833441 for enquiries and bookings.

Heating Oil

Pay less for your Heating Oil by using the Hanley and Welland Oil Club

Castlemorton Parish Council has arranged for householders in Castlemorton Parish to be able to join the Hanley and Welland Oil Club. The scheme has been running for over two years and currently has 230 members.

HOW THE SCHEME WORKS

You join the scheme by phoning Dennis Wade. Tel: 310410. He will register your name, address, postcode and telephone number with the oil supplier (currently Hingley Callow). There is membership fee.

When you want to order oil, you phone Hingley Callow (01299 828800) after 10.00am on a Monday and before 4.00pm on a Tuesday and they will give you the current price. You can check with other suppliers that this is the best price, and if you place your order before 4.00pm on the Tuesday, they will deliver on Wednesday.

Is there a minimum order? – Yes, 500 litres, but there is no surcharge for ordering under 1000 litres. The price per litre is the same.

Do I have to buy from Hingley Callow? – No, if you happen to be offered a better price elsewhere, you are at liberty to order from somebody else.

How do I pay? – You will be invoiced by Hingley Callow and you must pay within 7 days. No charge for cheques and Debit Cards. Credit Card payments attract a surcharge. The supplier offers a monthly budget scheme and once you are a Member they will give you details if you ask for them.

Aloe Vera ProductsRachel Tobin, Myrtleberry House, New Road, Castlemorton, Wr13 6BYTel: 833648Email: racheldianetobin@gmail.com‘Forever Living’ aloe vera products, which includes drinks, lotions and a wide range of supplementary nutritional products. Look on www.foreverliving.com and ring me with what you want and I can deliver to your door.

Animal Assisted TherapyBrambles Living FarmGullet Road, WR13 6LHEmail: julie@livingfarm.co.ukwww.livingfarm.co.ukTel: 833336Brambles is a working farm with rare breed animals. We run activity workshops with Animal Assisted Therapy and horticultural activities, for people of all ages, in groups or as individuals, with unique needs, such as:Learning DifficultiesAcquired Brain InjuriesAutismMental health issues or recovering from traumaEmotional and behavioural problemsDisaffected & excluded youthThose needing help through transition to independence

Rachel Tobin, Myrtleberry House, New Road, Castlemorton, WR13 6BYFor details, look on www.thebandbdirectory.co.uk/6861Tel: 833648Email: racheldianetobin@gmail.comStudio with king sized bed, goose down duvet and a personalised continental breakfast served in the studio daily. Open all year

Susan Box, North Farm, Hancocks Lane, Castlemorton, WR13 6LGTel: 574365Two Rooms, one with double single bed sand one with a double bed. Both with en-suite.

BookkeepingAnne CotterellTel: 07818 951442www.acc-books.co.ukEmail: anne@acc-books.co.ukDay to day bookkeeping, final accounts, VAT returns. Member of Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. Fully insured.

Music GroupsMed Snookes, The Nook, Hollybed Common, Castlemorton, WR13 6DBTel: 833477Email: vandmsnookes@tiscali.co.ukSmall music and singing group for events and private functions. I combine with a number of local musicians to offer a choice of folk, pop and other styles.

PeacocksMasons Farm, Gloucester Road, WR13 6JFAt Masons Farm we breed Indian Blue Peafowl and are taking orders for an Autumn collection of youngsters. Some adults are available, including non-related pairs.Contact Roger or Cas Best for more information, advice or just a chat.www.peacocksgalore.co.ukTel: 01684 833723Email: info@peacocksgalore.co.uk

Since the beginning of recorded history, White Doves have been a symbol of peace, innocence, purity, faith, fidelity and love.

DolittleDove Release provides a memorable bespoke White Dove Release service of pure white doves for releasing at weddings, funerals, christenings, birthdays and all other special occasions and serves the Three Counties of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. This display is completely environmentally-friendly, a much “greener” alternative than fireworks and Chinese lanterns and the doves are trained to return home.Recommendations can be made regarding choice of decorated cages, baskets, flowers and poems but individual wishes will always be a top priority.